NOTES' ON GUATEMALAN BIRDS' — WETMOiRE 561 



the slopes above the town. In handling specimens I was struck by the 

 very small size of the tail in comparison with the heavy body and 

 strong legs. 



HELEODYTES ZONATUS ZONATUS (Lesson) 



Picolaptes zonatus Lesson, Centurie zoologique . . ., 1S32, p. 210, pi. 70 ("Cali- 

 f ornie" ) . 



These cactus wrens of Guatemala are a constant surprise to one 

 who has come to know the genus through the species of the arid sec- 

 tions of the southwestern United States. To follow a flock of birds 

 superficially like ours through heavy undergrowth in a mountain 

 forest where all vegetation is dripping with moisture is new experience, 

 and it is difficult to establish mental association of these southern 

 wrens with their cousins of the arid scrubs and desert sunshine of 

 northern regions. 



My first individuals I found on October 30 at 7,600 feet on the 

 slopes of Volcan de Acatenango above Canderas in dense forest, where 

 they were shy and elusive. Others were seen in heavy growth above 

 a little stream near Chimaltenango on November 7, and on November 

 11 I found others in a dense thicket on a hillside back of Panajachel. 

 On November 21 I followed a little band of four or five over a steep, 

 brush-grown slope at Sierra Santa Elena at 9,500 feet, to emerge after 

 half an hour soaking wet with no specimens, but on November 26 at 

 Chichivac I collected two. 



These wrens are found in bands of four to seven or eight that keep 

 close together under cover, wdiere attention is drawn to them by their 

 chattering, scolding calls. They are usually shy but may be deco^-ed 

 by a careful imitation of their notes. They move alertly, climbing 

 along limbs and branches, searching in moss and epiphytes. At such 

 times the tail hangs loosely, and the birds seem entirely intent on food. 

 They were known to the boys as chorcha, and to the Indians at Sierra 

 Santa Elena as sorojoj. The iris is pale brownish gray, and the feet 

 and tarsi are olive yellow. 



The five specimens preserved as skins are all of the typical form. 

 Hellmayr ^^ is in error in not recognizing H. z. restrichis^ which, from 

 specimens in the National Museum, is easily distinguished. 



Family MIMIDAE 



DUMETELLA CAROLINENSIS (Linnaeus) : Catbird 



Mnscicapa carolmensis Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 12, vol. 1, 176G, p. 328 

 ( Virginia ) . 

 Common on December 4 near the beach on a small island opposite 

 Puerto Barrios. 



' Field Mus. Nat. Hist., zool. ser., vol. 13, pt. 7, 1934, p. 139. 



